Gilbert gymnast Alex Naddour named Olympic team alternate

Gilbert gymnast on standby for opening

by Jeff Metcalfe - Jul. 1, 2012 08:51 PMThe Republic | azcentral.com

Alex Naddour of Gilbert was named one of three alternates to the U.S. Olympic men's gymnastics team Sunday. He will continue training at a camp in Colorado Springs, July 8-11, and in London should an injury necessitate him joining the five-man team.

Sam Mikulak was able to compete only on pommel horse Saturday at the Olympic Trials due to an ankle injury but still was one of three gymnasts named by a selection committee to join Danell Leyva and John Orozco on the Olympic team.

If Mikulak's ankle remains a problem, Naddour likely would be the first choice as a replacement because he won pommel horse based on combined scores from the Visa Championships and trials.

"I was extremely anxious, and it was hard to sleep," waiting overnight to learn his fate, Naddour said. "My dad (Mike, his coach) and I went over all the scores. We didn't think they would end up taking a risk with Sam's injury, but they went the other way. You never know what they're going to do."

Alternates cannot live in the Olympic Village and must train separately from the Olympic team members.

Naddour, 21, plans to continue competing through the 2016 Olympics and will complete his college degree at Arizona State.

Two-time Beijing medalist Jonathan Horton was picked for the U.S. team, joining Jake Dalton and Mikulak. Leyva and Orozco automatically qualified for the five-man squad.

Chris Brooks and Steven Legendre are the other alternates.

On the women's side, 16-year-old Gabby Douglas upset world champion Jordyn Wieber in San Jose for the first time, winning the trials and the lone guaranteed spot for London.

One gymnast who won't compete in London is Olympic champion Nastia Liukin, who fell on uneven bars, her signature event.

Tears filled Liukin's eyes as she waved and said goodbye, to the crowd, her comeback and a career that includes five Olympic medals and four world titles.